Machine for removing and sifting ashes



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G. J. STREIB MACHINE FOR REMOVING AND SIFTING ASHES Filed June 26, 1931 am (we 5M Aug. 15; 1933.

Aug. 15, 1933. a. J. STREIB MACHINE FOR REMOVING AND SIFTING ASHES Filed June 26. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m mm 3 Q m 4 3 313 Gum mm as x mmvron ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 15, 1933 MACHINE FOR REMOVING AND SIFTING ASHE$ George Jack Strcib, Mount Vernon, N. Y.

Application June 26, 1931. Serial No. 547,012 6 Claims. (01. 209-247) This invention relates to means for automatically removing the residue of burning coal (known as ashes) from coal burning furnaces, elevatihg said ashes torequired height and siftingto reclaim coal. By varying the size of the removing element of this machine hereinafter fully described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, said machine will be adaptable for all coal burning furnaces, and more par- 19 ticularly a machine of this general nature is especially adapted for use with furnaces of household and domestic type.

This invention comprising the elements here inafter fully described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, alsorelates to removing, elevating and sifting like materials, for example sand; gravel, powdered and the like coarse or finely divided substances.

Anexample of the use of this invention is to eliminate objectionable labor and unsanitary methods of handlingashes usually performed in a closed cellar. It is well known that in the operation of burning coal in a coal burning furnacean enormous amount of material a mixture of finely divided ashes; clinkers; stones and coal are shaken down intoash pit in order to keep fire burning. In the residue thereis usually a percentage of coal that is seldom reclaimed due to the hand shoveling into hand operated ash sifters.

Therefore a general object of this invention is to eliminate objectionable andunsanitary hand shoveling and sifting of coal furnace ashes and toprovide a device which will operate automatically to remove; elevate; discharge into sifter and separate todischarge the finely divided unburnable substance into a suitable receptacle for convenient handling and disposal.

As ash remover designed to fulfill the required object automatically as described in foregoing paragraph should include means for conveying asheshorizontally from the ash pit beneath furnace grate to outside the wall of furnace; means for elevating the ashes'for discharge into sifting pan, and means forrocking said pan for sifting into ash can. 1

While the finely divided asheswill readily pass through the machine as hereinafter described, this invention includes means for breaking up the rough and irregularly shaped clinkers; stones erence is to be had to the accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings constituting a part of thisspecification and in which like characters of reference designate the same or similar parts in all the views, also in which:

Figure l is a plan view of an ash removing and sifting device embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section through the ash remover proper taken substantially on the line 2-2 in Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows, and is also a transverse section through the upper part of sifting member taken on line 4-4 marked in Figure 1 and also looking in direction of arrows. Figure 2 therefore shows all the working parts necessary for accomplishing the object of the invention.

Figure 3 is a similar enlarged vertical section taken on line 3-3 shownin both Figures 1 and 2 cutting spiral conveyor and looking toward the right hand thereof.

Figure 4 is a similar vertical section taken 7 on line 4--4 marked in Figure .1 cutting sifting member for arrangement of details.

Referring to the drawings in order to give a more detailed written description of the machine embodying the combination and arrangement of parts and their functions as hereinafter described, this invention is applied to a household furnacefor the objectof removing ashes and reclaiming coal. [Reference being had to the fact that this invention can be applied 35 to other like materials as aforesaid defined, and occupying a confined space or an enclosed chamber similar to a furnace ash pit chamber. In Figure 2 the outline of a household furnace is recognizable. In Figure 1 a cross-sectionis shown cutting through ash pit; ash clean-out door and draft door. r

In Figure l the numeral 10 is a shield preventing ashes from blocking the passage of the draft door and need only extend half-way up to allow draft toenter combustion chamber. Numeral 11 is a base-plate upon which the assembled circular disc, made up of parts l l, 15, 16,

17 and 18, revolves. The collar 14 has a bearing on base plate 11 and into this collar 14rods 15 are screwed. Upon these rods lathe segments 16 are mounted and are held in place by holding plate 17 with the aid of cotter pin 18. This revolving disc of parts 14, 15, 16, 1'7 and 18 is prevented from moving up bylock plate 13. I

The inner conveyor casing 19 is cylindrical in shape extending half-way into ash pit chamber or approximately equal to the radius of the circular revolving disc. At these central extremities it has a closed end with a boss beneath to fit into hollow of base plate 11 and secured to said base plate 11 with screw 12. Referring to Figure 3 which shows view looking toward outlet end of conveyor casing 19, a rectangular opening the full length of the side as at 19-A is shown and has ribs as at 19B. Materials as ashes enter through 19--A and are continuously fed by revolving disc, previously described.

This disc is driven by a drive collar 21 mounted' in a chamber as shown also in Figure 3. The driving of the collar 21 is performed by engaging a pin 22 with the conveyor spiral 20. Since drive collar 21 is not securely fastened to conveyor spiral 20 guide rollers 23 are provided which in turn bear upon pin shafts 24. At ribs 19-13 any large obstacle that cannot pass through conveyor will be broken up.

Conveyor spiral 20 revolves in conveyor casing 19 and terminates thru wall of furnace to outside of ash pit chamber, a conduit 25'to enclose conveyor spiral 20 and threaded into conveyor casing 19 completes the channel through which materials as ashes travel. At the other end of conduit 25 a collar 26 is securely fastened and with the aid of flange 27 and cap bolts can be readily coupled to main outside conveyor casing 28.

The elevating conveyor spiral 29 is similar to conveyor spiral 20, but mounted on a large hub and symmetrical in proportion so as also to act as a worm for driving worm gear 31. The two conveyor spirals are coupled together bya square end on shaft of removing conveyor 20 into a square pocket on elevating conveyor 29. Both parts are tensioned by a stiff spring 30.

The action of this elevating conveyor 29 isas follows. Materials such as ashes enter the chamber at 28-A. This chamber is designed large enough to take any large particle, although -if any particle is too large for said chamber it will be broken up by tooth projection shown at 29-A. The action of elevating conveyor 29 is very slow, hence tooth shown at 29A will not act as a grinder. When the beginning of the spiral thread (since the elevating conveyor 29 is the form of a single threaded worm) rotates around, it scoops up the material gathered in the chamber 28-A and forces it against worm gear 31. This worm gear 31 blocks the materials from turning with the conveyor 29, forcing it ahead, thereby clearing the path in back of said worm gear 31 allowing the scooping operation to continue. The driven materials are forced up through tube 38 into sifting member.

To obtain the rocking movement for sifting pan 34 a groove is cast in worm gear 31 at 31-A which with the mounting of a pin on slide rod 32 and inserted into groove 31-A produces a back and forth movement of said slide rod 32. Through the lever 33 an angular or reciprocating movement is produced and transmitted to its shaft. This said shaft projects through wall of sifting member frame 37 and terminates in a square end thereby allowing sifting pan pan 34 to be removed from machine by aid of handles 35.

A cover to sitting member is shown by numeral 39 having a handle 40. Tube 38 terminates in the center of said sitter cover 39. Both members are loosely fitted thereby allowing cover 39 to move up on tube 38, also swing on its axis. By this construction, cover 39 with tube 38 can be swung clear of sifting frame 37 for the object of removing sifter pan 34.

Referring to Figure 4, a shutter 48 with handle 49 is shown. It is easily seen that this shutter merely closes or opens, at the will of the operator, an outlet into can or receptacle 47.

For the automatic driving of this invention, conveyor spiral 29 has shaft extending beyond casing 28 and supported by bearing 41. Said bearing 41 is provided with a recess for grease and fitted with felt washers to keep out dirt and dust. Beyond bearing 41 and keyed to said shaft of elevating conveyor spiral is worm gear 42. This worm gear 42 has a worm 43 as driver, which has its source of power from electric motor 45. Substantial bearings, one at each end,

In conclusion, although I have described one,

practical embodiment of the invention, it isreadily understood that the various combination and arrangement of parts aforesaid; described and shown may be changed and altered in proportion to accommodate different service requirements and different materials without'departing from the spirit and scope of the said invention and as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. In an ash and the like materials removing and sifting machine, the combination with an enclosed chamber of a horizontally arranged screw conveyor extending from the center of said enclosed chamber to without to remove ashes and the like materials therefrom circular revolving disc member forming the floor of the enclosed chamber and occupying the space beneath path of screw conveyor, a tubular casing, the screw conveyor rotating therein, said tubular casing having a rectangular opening at its side, equal to the approximate length of radius of said circular revolving disc, into which ashes and like materials are guided by said circular revolving disc, into the path of screw conveyor to conduct saidashes and like materials into the action of an elevating screw conveyor, being larger in proportion than screw conveyor to form a pocket with said tubular casing to prevent a jamming action of ashes and like materials against a worm wheel in mesh with said elevating screw conveyor and rotated thereby to drive said ashes and like materials through a funnel shaped conduit having the larger area leading into a sifting member, cam means on said Worm wheel for moving a sifting screen, and means for discharging into can or suitable receptacle.

2. In an ash and the like materials remover and sifter in combination with an enclosed chamber a circular revolving disc forming the floor of the said enclosed chamber with a substantial bearing and base plate at its central point, a screw conveyor arranged on the top face are conducted by circular revolving disc to screw conveyor to without enclosed chamber into the action of an elevating screw conveyor with a worm wheel engaging and driven by said elevating screw conveyor so that the distance from the vertical centerline of worm wheel to the beginning of thread of elevating screw conveyor and to the wall of tubular casing where ashes and like materials enterv from screw conveyor into its action, be' less than the distance worm wheel, and elevating screw conveyor could be in mesh with each other had elevating screw conveyor been extended. a sitting member connected to elevating screw conveyor by a tube having a gradual increased area leading into said sifting member, means for moving sifting screen by a mechanical action mounted on said worm wheel.

3. In an enclosed chamber the combination of acircular revolving disc forming thefloor of the chamber and a screw conveyor horizontally arranged onthe upper face of said circular revolving disc extending to the central point of enclosed chamber and circular revolving disc and surroundd by a stationary cylindrical casing extending through wall of enclosed chamber said cylindrical casing having an opening at its side to allow circular revolving disc to feed ashes and like materials in range of revolving screw conveyor to be carried through into an elevating screw conveyor which is similar to a screw conveyor but mounted on a larger root diameter so as to form a pocket with thewall of cylindrical casing for a scooping action by tooth thread of elevating screw conveyor, a large worm wheel intermeshing tooth thread of elevating screw conveyor to prevent ashes and like materials from turning with saidtooth thread, fOIC! ing it to be fed along into, a conduit having its area gradually enlarged similar to a funnel, terminating into a sifting member, said sifting member having means driven mechanically by worm wheel for automatic separating materials into fine and coarse particles.

4. In the removing and sitting of ashes and like materials from an enclosed chamber, the combination of a circular revolving disc forming the maximum floor of enclosed chamber, a tubular casing terminating at the revolving point of said circular revolving disc and extending to without enclosed chamber, arranged directly on the top face of circular revolving disc and having an opening at its side wall along the portion of the radius of the circular revolving disc "and adjacent to the movement of said circular revolving disc to pass ashes and the like materials for a screw conveyor, revolving therein, to conduct without enclosed chamber into the range or an elevating screw conveyor, said tubular casing having vertical ribs on aforesaid opening to break up large obstacles, as clinkers to prevent the jamming of screw conveyor, a worm wheel engaging elevating screw conveyor and rotated thereby, a sitting member, cam means mounted on said worm wheel for automatically operating sifting member, a conduit, the continuation of the tubular casing enclosing elevating screw conveyor inclined to a larger area leading into sifting member, together with a worm gear securely fastened to screw conveyor through which power is supplied to rotate screw conveyor and circular revolving disc.

5. The combination with an enclosed chamber a horizontally arranged screw conveyor extending to its central point, enclosed in a cylindrical casing with an opening at the portion of the side wall, approximately equal to the radius and facing against the direction of rotation, of a circular revolving disc, revolubly'mounted on a base plate integral with said cylindrical casing and at the inner extremities of said screw conveyor, having the upper plane of said circular revolving disc adjacent to the lower line of the opening of cylindrical casing to convey ashes and like materials through the screw conveyor into an elevating screw conveyor, arranged in the shape of a symmetrical threaded worm on a large hub and with a worm wheel in mesh with worm thread of elevating screw conveyor, said worm wheel having means to produce a movement of a sitting screen arranged in a trough shaped sifting compartment, having the removal of said sifting screen by an inter-locking arrangement with the lever connecting with said worm wheel, a conduit slightly funnel shaped connecting the sifting compartment and the elevating screw conveyor to deliver ashes and likev materials by said screw conveyor from said cir-- cular revolving disc member to the sitting member, said sifting compartment having an opening at its lowest point, having a shutter at this point slidably mounted with handle to control the passage or materials therefrom. I

6. In an enclosed chamber the removing and sifting of ashes and like materials therefrom, the combination comprising a horizontally arranged circular revolving disc to form the floor, the

-maximum space of enclosed chamber, a screw conveyor rotatably contained in a stationary tubular casing to extend from the center point of said circular revolving disc to without enclosed chamber to slowly allow ashes and like materials collected on said circular revolving disc to feed through a slot shaped opening in wall of tubular casing to be conveyed .by the screw conveyor intothe range of an elevating screw conveyor, a rotatably arranged screw.

thread with a large root diameter as a hub integral to screw conveyor in an enlargement tubular casing integral to said screw conveyor tubular casing so as to form a pocket at conjunction of both casings and conveyors for ashes and like materials to enter into from screw conveyor, said pocket being formed by cutting away a portion of the hub on elevating screw conveyor at the beginning of the worm thread and having a tooth projecting toward the center point of said hub for the object of breaking up materials too large to pass between the screw thread of the elevating screw conveyor, a worm wheel engaging said screw thread rotated thereby in a casing integral to screw conveyor casing, the elongation of said screw conveyor casing following its contour but increasing in area leading into a sitting member, a sitting screen in said sifting member mechanically operated by lever means engaging with said worm wheel.

GEORGE JACK 

